Detachable seamless diaphragm for gas-meters.



H. F.- FRICK.

DETAGHABLB SEAMLESS DIAPHRAGM FOR GAS METERS.

APPLICATION rI'Lnn DEO.13, 1909.

984,268. I Patented Feb. 14,1911.

HERMAN F. ERICK, OF JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY.

DETACHABLE SEAMLESS DIAPHRAGM FOR GAS-METERS Specification of LettersPatent.

Application filed December 13, 1909.

Patented Feb. 14, 1911. Serial No. 532,960.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HERMAN F. Fnioir, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of Jersey City, county of Hudson, and State of NewJersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in DetachableSeamless Diaphragms for GasMeters, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention has reference to improvements in diaphragms for gasmeters and it is the special object of my invention to producedetachable and seamless diaphragms which may be readily mounted, takenout and exchanged in the meter.

The present invention relates to the dia phragms or bellows-likeconstructed devices in gas meters that occupy the greater part of thespace in the meter below the valve mechanism which measure a certainquantity of gas at each operation. Each diaphragm is provided with anarm receiving from same motion and thereby driving the register andvalve mechanism. Heretofore such diaphragms were usually constructedfrom a strip of leather sewed together on the overlapping portions insuch manner that the stitch holes did not pass through the entire layerof the overlapping portion in order to prevent any escaping of gasthrough the stitch holes. This is rather painstaking and timetaking workand incurs a great deal of expense. These diaphragms were connected onboth sides to suitable metal rings which had to be soldered into themeter and when an exchange or cleaning was necessary the solder had tobe fused so that the diaphragm could be taken out and a new one insertedby soldering or the like. Hereby it occurred quite frequently that partsof the meter were damaged. The production of this diaphragm thereforewas rather expensive and their insertion by soldering and the likeincreased the cost of running the meter,

The purpose of the present invention is to produce seamless diaphragmsfor gas meters which may be inserted and exchanged with out the use ofany solder. This is effected without disturbing or damaging any otherparts of the meter and is done in considerably less time than with theformer dia phragms. The construction of the novel diaphragms is such.that they may be applied in any existing gas meter without changing it.In addition to these main objects it has been sought to reduce the costof construction and incidentally the new diadesirable article, all aswill be fully described hereinafter with reference to the accompanyingdrawing in which:

Figure 1 represents in front elevation a gas meter with the front wallremoved embodying in desirable form the present improvements. Fig. 2 isa sectional view on an enlarged scale on line 2 2 of Fig. 1 with thecasing omitted. Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of a detail of the device.Fig. 4 shows in plan view a slightly modified detachable diaphragm; andFig. 5 is a side view of a detachable diaphragm and supporting ring.

Similar characters of reference denote like parts in all the figures.

In the drawing a represents the gas meter, (4 is the inlet and a theoutlet for the gas. In the upper portion of the meter there is apartition a while Z) represents the valve box. Centrally within thelower portion of the meter there is a second partition 0 suit ablysupported and shown in section in Figs. 2 and 3. This partition 0supports the diaphragms or bellows-like constructed devices.

The novel diaphragm is constructed in substantially the followingmanner: Each diaphragm consists of a large circular leather disk (Z. Theinner portion of this disk has on each side a thin small sheet metaldisk (Z slightly curved outwardly on its circumference so as to preventa sharp edge on the leather as indicated in Fig. 2. The metal disks andthe larger leather disk are united by small rivets (Z The outer disk ofsheet metal of each diaphragm has secured thereto a carriage (Z withmovable pin (Z which preferably is also detachable. The carriage is inconnection with a movable arm 0 which receives motion from thediaphragms when in operation whereby the clock work is driven. At theouter margin the leather disk is curved forming an annular flange (Zwhich may be strengthened by an annular strip of adhesive tape f.

The described device forms the detachable diaphragm. It isself-evidentthat the diaphragm composed of a continuous circular leatherdisk and provided centrally with an outer and inner disk of sheet metaldoes not require any seams while the marginal flange thereon renders itadapted to be applied within the meter leaving an operative continuousleather portion without seam between the disk and the flange. Thisportion (Z is entirely smooth and can not form gathers during operationbecause its marginal end portion is secured as is the case with formerdevices.

Two diaphragms are secured in each meter to the partition 0 one on eachside. lVlnle in former devices the diaphragm with its two metal ringshad to be soldered into the meter this is not necessary by the use ofthe present invention. A metal ring 9 is soldered to the partition 0 oneach side and remains within the meter forming thus a permanent part ofsame. The construction and form of this ring 9 are shown in Q, 3, andThe ring 9 increases somewhat in width and forms an annular flange andat the end of same a. short flange g at right angles thereto. Theannular flange g is adapted to receive the flange d of the noveldiaphragm that rests then with its end on the flange A split ring h isplaced on the flange (Z of the diaphragm and is tightened by the device71 A small wire ring 5 is soldered to the securing ring h and extendsbeyond same so that the leather portion 17 of the diaphragm cannot comein contact with a sharp edge. To strengthen the ring g a metal ring issoldered between the ring proper g and the flange Atter the ring g hasbeen soldered to the partition 0 the novel diaphragm is convenientlymounted by simply slipping it on the portion 9 of the ring 9 andfastening it by the securing ring it. The removal of the diaphragm isusually effected by loosening the tightening device 71. removing thesecuring ring 71 and taking otl the diaphragm. The carriage (1 as abovestated is preferably detachable so that this part may remain in themeter. When the two diaphragms alternately shrink and expand by thepressure of the gas the registering mechanism is operated by means ofthe carriage (Z and the rod 0 in the usual manner.

The adhesive tape f surrounding the angular flange (Z of the diaphragmtends to keep the latter in shape and prevent it from expanding orshrinking during transportation. The tape may be taken ofl' beforeinserting the diaphragm into the meter or it may be left on the angularflange 1Z when mounting same.

The slightly modified lorm oi a detachable diaphragm shown in Fig. tcomprises a plate (Z stamped out to form two small lugs which are bentup at right angles to the plate which form the support for the movablepin of the carriage cl.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a gas meter, a central partition, two rings one permanentlysecured to each side of said partition forming an annular flange and ashort flange at right angles thereto in combination with a detachablediaphragm for each ring provided with an integral marginal flangeadapted to be applied to the annular flange of the ring.

2. A detachable seamless diaphragm for gas meters consisting of a largecircular leather disk having torn'ied on its margin an annular flange,an adhesive tape on said annular flange, two metal disks on its centralportion one on each side, and means to secure said metal disk to thediaphragm.

In a gas meter, a central partition having on each side thereof andsoldered thereto a ring increasing gradually in diameter bent to form anannular flange and a short flange at right angles to the latter, and astrengthening ring between the ring proper and the annular flange.

-l-. A detachable seamless diaphragm for gas meters consisting of acircular leather disk with an integral marginal flange, two metal diskson its central portion. one on each side riveted thereto, and a carriageon one metal disk in combination with a ring permanently secured in themeter bent to "form an annular flange and a short flange at right anglesto the latter, said annular flange being adapted to receive the marginalflange of the diaphragm, and detachable securing means on the flange otthe diaphragm.

Signed at New York, N. 1 this 11th day of December. 1909.

HERMAN F. I l-TICK. \lfltnesses Lunwio K. Bonn, CORISNE Mrnns.

